Auxiliary lift



May 17, 1932. F, H. THORPE 1,858,866

AUXILIARY LIFT Filed Sept. 13, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FKTZ ad fr* v ...TMW FoREs r H, THoRPE,

Patented May 17, 1932 UNITED STATESy PATENT' OFFICE FORESTE. TOBPE, OIHCOLUHBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOB TO THE COLUMBUS SUCXER BOD COEPANY, Ol' COLUMBUS, OHIO, A CORPORATION 0F OHIO AUXILIABY LIFT Application led September 13, 1929. Serial No. 398,323.

This invention relates to auXiliary lifts for use in connection with oil wells. It particularly relates to means for admitting gas or air pressure from the exterior of the oil pipe to the interior thereof, to aid in the lifting of the oil from the well up through the pipe.

It is particularly the object of this invention to rovide one or more of these devices adapte to aid in hoisting the oil by means of pressure in the well through one or more stages of the depth of the well.

For the purpose of illustration there is lshown in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of this invention, in which one device is used. w Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the well casing, the oil pipe and one of the devices, showing the valves used inconnection therewith.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view'oi the device with the oil pipe and casing in section. The well casing is indicated by the numeral l and may be of any suitable size or length. The oil pipe is indicated by the numeral 2 and tits within'the casing with some considerable space between the walls thereof, which is occupied by gas or air under pressure.

in order to conine the pressure within the casing and around the oil pipe the upper part of the casing may be closed, and in case the pressure of the natural accumulation of gas within the casing is not sufficient to force the oil up Vthrough the oil pipe, air may be l pumped into the casing around the oil pipe,

or air pressure alone may be used.

it has been :found by actual observation that the pressure ef 'the gas within the casing is several times greater near the top than at the bottom of the well. For instance, the pressure may be as much as one hundred pounds at the bottom of the well, whereas near the 'top of the well the pressure may be eight hundred pounds, and it is for the pu-rl pose of using this additional pressure in elevatin the oil that this apparatus is devised and ormed.

The adjacent ends of the sections of the oil pipe are screw threaded, as indicated by the numeral 3. The body of the device which may be used for uniting the sections of pipe is indicated by the numeral 4, and is screw threaded ateach end of a hole 5. The screw threads are indicated by the numeral 6. The liole 5 serves as a passageway 'for the oil through the device and is in line with the sections of thel pipe.

' There is also arranged in the body, as indicated in the figures, one or more chambers 7. These chambers are shown in the present drawings to be four in number but any suitable number may-be used, and as shown in the drawings the upper end of each chamber is closed, whereas the lower one is open and is screw threaded as indicated by the numeral 8.

Within the screw threaded end of each chamber is a plug 9 which has a passageway 10 therethrough. The upper part of this passageway leads into a pressure cavity 11. The lower part of the plug surrounding the assageway has a depression 12 which aids 1n directing the as through the passageway up into the cham er. There is also provided in the plug a slot 13 to receive a screw driver for the purpose of removing or placing the plirilg within the chamber. x

he edge of the plug surrounding the pressure cavity is beveled to forni a valve seat 14. Resting upon this valve seat is a ball valve 15 which has resting thereon a weight 16. This Weight may be of any size, dependent upon the amount of pressure needed at the particular location for the opening of the valve and the admission of gas into the oil pipe. The weight might be dispensed with by making the ball valve of su'lhcient weight. Leading from the chamber 7 and adjacent the upper end of the plug 9 isa duct 17 leading into the oil pipe. When a sufficient amount of gas pressure has accumulated within the' casing 1 the ball 15 is raised to permit the passage of gas from the casing outside of the oil pipe through the chambers,

.ducts 17, into the oil pipe. It is noticed that these ducts 17 lead into the oil pipe in substantially the same direction in which the oil therein is flowing kso that as the air or gas enters into the oil pipe it impin es upon the outer surface of the oil and ten s to force it upwardly in the same direction in which the gas is moving and in the same direction in which the oil is flowing.

There may be any number of these devices located at various and suitable points along the lenh of the oil pipe for the purpose of using t e pressure in the casing, while at diiferent points each device admits gas or air under pressureffto aid in elevating the oil.

It is to be understood that I may use a single valve and may so construct the valve as to dis use with the weight for closing the same. '.lple oil ipe may also be so constructed that the va ve or valves will be located therein instead of in a separate unit.

I desire to comprehend within my invention such modifications'as may be clearly embraced within my claims and the scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is new and desire to sccure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an auxiliary lift, a union member having a longitudinal passage therein a plnrality of longitudinal chambers in sai member with a diagonal duct for each chamber leading into the passage, a plug in one end of each chamber, said plug having a restricted passageway terminating in a pressure cavity and a valve seat, a ball valve adapted to rest in said seat and close the passageway, and a weight resting loosely upon each ball.

2. In an auxiliary lift, a union member having a longitudinal passage therein, a plurality of lon tudnal chambers in said member with a ia onal duct for each chamber leading into t e passage, a plug in each chamber, said lug having a passageway including a ilui directing depression, a pressure cavity and a valve seat,` a ball valve adapted to rest in said seat and close the passageway, and a weight resting loosely upon the ball.

In 'tbstimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

FOREST H. THORPE. 

